5 Reasons to visit the town of Vigevano
August 16, 2010Even after 5 years in Italy – and more than half of that in Milan – I had never heard of Vigevano until a Milanese friend asked if I wanted to swing by her boyfriend’s house – in a beautiful…
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Family amusement in Italy: 15 excellent parks
August 03, 2010Whether you love roller coasters or are just looking for something to balance a few days of museums and churches, you’ll find what you’re looking for at one of the outdoor parks below. Note that these parks are excellent for…
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Caves and tunnels in Italy: Three underground favorites
July 19, 2010Want to explore Italy where a flashlight or even hard hat is required? There are thousands of caves and tunnels in Italy, giving the traveler lots of options to go underground. Tuscany alone has 1,500 grottoes and 270 km of…
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Italy’s Autogrill cookbooks
June 28, 2010After my interview and the discussion about (among other things) the Autogrill cookbooks on theEye on Italy podcast, I got the books out to check the publisher and locate them online. I didn’t find evidence that they could be purchased…
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The Baptistery doors in Florence: So what?
June 21, 2010Asking yourself “So what?” or “what’s the big deal?” is a great starting point when looking at any famous work of art in Italy. Yes, it’s probably aesthetically impressive, but it may be equally significant because of its historical context….
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Lake Maggiore with kids
June 17, 2010Boats, trains, cable cars, beaches, and castles: I wrote about all this and more, plus restaurant and accommodation suggestions over at ItaliaKids.com, so go read about what to do with kids on Italy’s Lake Maggiore. Photo of Cannero castle by…
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Trompe l’oeil art in Italy: five favorite works
June 07, 2010Trompe l’oeil is a French phrase meaning to trick the eye, so artists have used this technique for centuries to create the illusion of space or depth. I love the fun trompe l’oeil “windows” on the buildings in the seaside town of Camogli,…
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Castles with kids: How to choose a castle and ensure the kids love it
May 24, 2010Most of the trips I plan for families include a castle, because every parent knows that kids love castles! If you’d like to put a castle on your Italy itinerary, here are some tips on finding the perfect castle,…
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Italy off the beaten track: A seven week itinerary
May 19, 2010How would you spend your time if you had seven weeks to travel in Italy? My husband and I had that opportunity before we moved from Milan to the USA, and because I get the “what should I see in Italy”…
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Write a blog post for Italy Beyond the Obvious
Would you like to write a blog post to be published on Italy Beyond the Obvious? Read this first.
